dadt

Dadt, standing for Don't Ask, Don't Tell, refers to the United States military policy governing service by lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals from 1994 until its repeal in 2011. The policy was enacted by Congress in 1993 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. It prohibited active-duty personnel from openly stating or acting on their sexual orientation, while forbidding the military from asking about a service member’s sexual orientation. In exchange, it barred recruitment of openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals and allowed the discharge of members whose sexual orientation became known or who engaged in same-sex conduct.

Under DADT, service members could remain in the armed forces only so long as their orientation remained private and did not come to light through disclosure or conduct that attracted notice. The policy created an environment in which LGBTQ service members could serve but were constrained by the risk of investigation and discharge if their orientation or activities were disclosed or discovered. Enforcement relied on the discretion of commanders and military investigators.

The repeal of DADT began with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, signed into law by President Barack Obama. The repeal took effect on September 20, 2011, ending the prohibition on openly serving and allowing LGBTQ individuals to enlist and remain in the military without fear of discharge solely for their sexual orientation. Since then, military policy has moved toward non-discrimination and open service regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, with ongoing updates to reflect evolving standards.